Escape to the Cape

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Western Cape »
Cape Town »
Rondebosch

Escape to the Cape is a dynamic tour company specialising in luxury tours at affordable prices. Our tours are all fully inclusive and there are no hidden costs. Think luxury air-conditioned vehicles, free snacks and selected meals and the services of enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides – a sure guarantee for an unforgettable vacation!

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Contact Details

Address

Stone Fountain Terrace, Suite 102

95 Klipfontein Road

Rondebosch

7700

Reviews

Marcia Siebers

We used Escape to the Cape for a film shoot and I can only say the service was excellent!
Before the shoot Shaheed helped us sorting out the itinerary and while we were there they were flexible if things needed to turn around, offered a helping hand, gave great advice and took great care of our team. Joe, our driver, was really friendly and great to be around all day. The car was spacious, had Wifi (which was hard to get in SA since it was Easter) and AC.
If I go to SA for a holiday, I'll definitely contact them.
Danki, guys!!!

Njeri Chege

For that authentic experience of Cape Town, Shaheed and the Escape to the Cape team are your go to guys! I visited with friends while on business and the experience was more that we bargained for. Excellent team for anyone who is looking for the real experience of the Cape - the coffee house at the corner deeply rooted in the Cape heritage, the seafood restaurant that will get you asking for more ....

Zak Ahmed from Atlanta

Escape to the Cape's service was top notch during our stay in Cape Town. I would recommend your company to everyone who visits Cape Town. Your drivers were very punctual, friendly and knowledgable about the country and things to do in Cape Town. If we wanted to do the tourist route or do local things they knew when and where to take us. We also felt very safe and secure when we were in their presence. We look forward to seeing you again and will certainly hire your company for our service. Again, many thanks and you made our stay that much more enjoyable.

Maxine Albert

Maxine A Had an amazing time visiting South Africa with the expert team of Escape To The Cape. Owner Shaheed is the ultimate professional. He's friendly, entertaining, knows the coolest places and has exquisite taste. He's always at the ready for every request. I really like knowing that when you use this company you're guaranteed a seamless experience. Not many places can say that and it's hugely important when you travel to a foreign country. Escape To The Cape delivers. I was impressed by their attention to detail, ability to customize a tour according to what you wanted, punctuality and great vehicles - spacious, clean, with AC and Wi Fi. Aside from being super nice, super smart and able to deliver exactly what you want, Shaheed is Mr Personality. He's so cool.

Njeri Chege

For that authentic experience of Cape Town, Shaheed and the Escape to the Cape team are your go to guys! I visited with friends while on business and the experience was more that we bargained for. Excellent team for anyone who is looking for the real experience of the Cape - the coffee house at the corner deeply rooted in the Cape heritage, the seafood restaurant that will get you asking for more ....

Carlo Wolff

I was part of a group of jazz reviewers who experienced the hospitality and expertise of Shaheed Ebrahim in Cape Town in March 2012. Not only was Shaheed unfailingly polite, he was good-humored and dealt with a bunch of crabby, tired foreigners with tact and patience.
Besides, he knew his way around the Cape Town area, bringing us to sights we would never have thought to visit and explaining the terrain with depth and insight.
Shaheed even made us comfortable on a thrilling helicopter ride around the area highlighting the rugged beauty of the place.
He and his team know all the right people for their business. Better yet, they know how to make strangers so welcome they feel like part of the community while they're in the hands of Escape to the Cape. I'd recommend them to anyone visiting Cape Town and hope I get a chance to use their company again. And to encounter the gracious Shaheed Ebrahim another time.
Visited July 2013

Justin Barnette

Had a great experience with the team at Escape to the Cape. Shaheed and his team are friendly, professional and knowledgeable guides. Their vehicles are comfortable and clean, with wifi hot spots and phone chargers for those who want to be sure to tweet, Facebook or blog all about the awesome experiences offered in and around Cape Town. Great tours to all the "must-see" spots.
Visited May 2014

David Cogwell

What can I say that 36 "excellent" ratings haven't already said? Add my name to the list. Shaheed took care of a group of North American writers that I was with and pulled it off without a hiccup. He picked us up at the airport and from then on everything went fine. We were in good hands. Whatever we needed he took care of. That should be enough. But on top of that he was a great guy, fun to be around and full of good stories.
Visited May 2014

Tiny Konig

We were 2 days on the road with our guide Joe. He showed us the most unexpected sights of Capetown wich was lovely. Due to our guide we had a wonderful stay in mothercity Capetown.

Maggie Parker

Our tour guide was genuine, friendly, passionate and extremely knowledgeable. What more could you ask for? The sites were interesting, and we had a remarkable tour of robben island. plus they have wifi in the vans!! #winning

Catherine Dunwoody

For me, it's all about the guide when it comes to any travel tour. I look to my tour guide for their knowledge, their expertise, and to the atmosphere they create. Shaheed has absolutely found his calling as a star in Capetown's travel business. Wrangling 10 of us on a whirlwind couple of days was not easy I'm certain, but far and beyond that, he offered us an authentic, life-changing experience. Shaheed - thank you!
Visited May 2014

Kevin Chong- Vancouver

Shaheed picked us up from the airport and ably led our group through tours of Bo Kaap, Robben Island, Franschoek. Shaheed was knowledgable, friendly, and unfailingly gracious. His vehicle was immaculate and had snacks and wi-fi.

Devin Galaudet - California

Had a wonderful visit to Cape Town and used Escape to the Cape as our tour company and Shaheeb as our daily guide. This included, airport transfers, pick ups, attractions in and out of Cape Town (Cape Good Hope, Hout Bay, Boulder Beach for penguins, Table Mountain and more), good humor and a comfortable van. Highly recommended. And did I say, I took some of the best photos ever in South Africa? Great trip all around! Thanks, Escape to the Cape!!
Visited May 2014

Shastra Trumbo- Atlanta, USA

My friends and I had an excellent experience with Escape to the Cape. Shaheed and his team made sure that our visit to Capetown was memorable. This was my second visit to Capetown and I wanted to make sure that I did a township tour. Shaheed was referred to me by a friend who also had a great experience with him as well. Our full day tour included a tour by Shaheed of several landmarks within Capetown. The spice shop was awesome and we stocked up! Next on our visit was a walking tour of the Langa Township. Our tour guide, Abosh made sure that our tour of the Langa Township was authentic and memorable. This tour topped off an outstanding visit to Capetown and also through Shaheed's recommendation we had an excellent dinner at the Gold Restuarant (a must dinner experience). Overall, I would recommend Escape to the Cape Tours to anyone who plans to visit Capetown.
Visited February 2014

Deepshika

5 days in Cape town, and we had a great time, thanks to Shaheed. Well to begin with , we knew exactly what all we wanted to do in the city and there we had him to materialize it all, catering to the smallest thing we needed, yet not imposing anything. Since we were travelling with our kids( 7yrs old and 8 months old), we needed flexibility which Shaheed completely understood, thus making our trip much more comfortable. We did the Cape peninsula tour and The Winery tour with him, and we didn't regret it even for a minute. The vehicle offered to us was so comfortable and luxurious. I had been interacting with Shaheed on email for last 2 months and the best thing was that they were all reverted back promptly. Even on the days when we didn't take any of his services, he went the extra mile to help us. The personal touch that he gave was what impressed us so much. Thanks Shaheed for making it all worthwhile.
Visited March 2014

Dalia Khourshid- Delta Airlines

I have never been so impressed with a tour company like I have been with Shaheed's Escape to the Cape. From beginning to end, everything was perfectly planned and executed. My husband and I did the Aquila Safari tour. We were picked up at our hotel in a private car; waters waiting, wifi connection, and a top notch tour guide - what more could we ask for. Though it was great to have the wifi (so I can upload all my pix instantly to my social media forums), we didn't really use it on our way there. Joe, our guide for the day, was so interesting and informative we listened to him as he gave us the rundown on the history of the city as well as explaining all the landmarks we passed along the way (I think I asked him close to 2,000 questions! and he gladly answered every one of them :)). The Safari itself was also great but what made it for us was the overall experience and just to be able to relax in a private car without a large group of people to have to keep track of and wait around for. We loved the experience so much we asked to setup a Township Tour for the next day! On top of it all, we asked Shaheed for suggestions on restaurants, not only did he give is some great suggestions, he also called them to confirm they were open and if so, how late (since it was Christmas Day). In addition, he offered to make reservations for us at our restaurant of choice. What an awesome company and even more extraordinary owner!!! This company is young but I can already see it has a bright future ahead, keep up the professionalism and innovation, we'll see you all the next time we are in Cape Town!

Suzanna Pritchard

We visited CT (from Florida, U.S.) before our Hunting Expedition in Limpopo. Our family included parents, grandparents and small children. Mario met us promptly at the airport and took us to the Hilton downtown. He gave us information for dinner and safety tips. He met us Sat. morning for our 2 days of touring the Cape area. He took us to all the tourist highlights and to special places we wanted to see. He had excellent knowledge of any and all questions we asked. He made sure we saw Table Mt. at its best with the sun shining bright. He patiently waited as we shopped and stopped whenever we asked. The director of this company Shaheed was also a true pleasure to work with, always emailing me back promptly when I was arranging the tours 2 months in advance. This is a # 1 company!! I will rec. to all my friends and family!

Christina Conrado - NYC

I had the pleasure of utilizing Escape to the Cape on my first visit to South Africa, and Cape Town, and I couldn’t possibly be more impressed with the quality of service Shaheed and his entire team put forth. Upon first meeting, my group and I instantly felt as though we had gained another friend on our journey. Escape to the Cape is punctual, friendly, and immensely well-versed in the city and its myriad of fantastic travel offerings. Even more, we couldn’t believe how accommodating the tour vehicle was – complete with fresh water bottles, snacks, charging stations and even Wi-Fi! I believe I can speak on behalf of my entire group when I say that there is no other way to tour in Cape Town than with Escape to the Cape!

Daniela Marchesi

I visited Cape Town earlier this month and was super impressed with the service provided by the guys at Escape to the Cape.
Shaheed and his team of experienced, passionate and knowledgable guides genuinely offer a great way to see and experience this amazing city. Nothing is too much effort, the service - from airport pick up to drop off & everything in between - is seamless, and they have access to so many activities and experiences beyond the tourist trail, which means you really get underneath the skin of this pulsing city.
There is so much more to CT, besides Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront, and these guys are the obvious ones to turn to.
I will definitely be knocking on their door next time I head down!

Chad Shiver

The Escape to the Cape team made sure that our recent trip to Cape Town was fantastic. The director and all of his staff made great arrangements for us and took excellent care of our group. My first time in a car with its own wifi connection! I'll definitely use Shaheed's company again when I'm next in South Africa!

Mirjam Moine

Escape to the Cape is a very reliable company. During my stay in Cape Town I could always rely on Shaheed and his staff. They are always on time and very helpful and offer a great service.

Melvin Boecher of Berlin

I've traveled around with Escape to the Cape for around a week last year for our #LoveCapeTown campaign and we had a very good time. They are very professional and reliable. I personnaly loved to have free WiFi in their vans. Wow! That way we could share our experiences with friends, family and followers right away.

Samantha Stewart

I can't say enough about Escape to the Cape! Shaheed and his team are prompt and show great attention to detail. I traveled with a group of 18 people (college students and professors) and Shaheed went above and beyond assisting us with hotels, on ground transportation and recommendations on where to eat and what to see. As the coordinator of the trip I greatly appreciated his attention to detail, prompt responses to all of my inquiries (keep in mind there was a 6 hour time difference) and easy-going personality as changes would need to be made. His staff was always on time at every pick-up and was flexible with us when we ran late or made changes to the itinerary (traveling with a group this large led to several late departures).
I would absolutely use and recommend Escape to the Cape!!
Visited August 2012 from Atlanta

Ali Shareef

I was recommended by a friend of mine to use Escape to the Cape services for Business and Pleasure. Business use was hiring a driver for the day taking me to our meetings. They turned up on time at the airport to pick us up and then everyday when we had client meetings.
Over the weekend when we had some time off we decided to book a tour and it was amazing. I was travelling with my CEO and MD who thoroughly enjoyed the services provided.
The tour was very informative and enjoyable. Took us to some sights with some spectacular views only known to locals.
I would highly recommend their services.
Visited October 2012

Maggie

Our tour guide was genuine, friendly, passionate and extremely knowledgeable. What more could you ask for? The sites were interesting, and we had a remarkable tour of robben island. plus they have wifi in the vans!! #winning

Valerie Leventhal

Shaheed was recommended by a friend of mine who works at South Africa Tourism, so I knew right away that Shaheed would be a great contact! We did two activities with Escape to the Cape.
First was a tour of Langa Township. We ate lunch at a local restaurant and got to know some about the culture first hand from the owner. Then we walked all through the township, led by someone who lives there and was able to give us an insider's perspective. We were saddened to see the living conditions, but our hearts swelled at the love amongst the people there. We brought crayons and coloring books to the children, who were so happy! They wanted to play with us and hold our hands. All the while, we were being followed by our Mercedes towncar (definitely out of place there!) who was available should we need anything.
Second was a cooking experience in the Muslim area of Bo Kaap in Cape Town. The experience called "Cooking with Love" (Love = Salt) was so wonderful. The woman, Faldela, who hosted us was a dream, so funny and sweet. We cooked the most amazing food - breads, curry chicken, rice, desserts, everything. It was so much fun and we loved the experience.
Definitely recommend ETTC to anyone!

Beatriz Haro

Traveling alone can be difficult, particularly as you always feel the urge to be on your game and remain totally alert at all times (you know, just in case). My stay in Cape Town as a lone traveler was one of the most relaxing and unforgettable experiences thanks to Shaheed and his team, for they are absolutely professional, attentive and helpful. From my first contact with Shaheed everything was amazing. He took on my requests of what I wanted to do, see and where I wanted to go to the dot and went the extra mile by giving further suggestions to make my trip unforgettable for all the right reasons. His team was always super polite, responsive, punctual and kept me in the loop of how we were going as per our schedule every step of the way. So, if you are serious about having the time of your life during your next trip to the Cape, give Shaheed a call for he will definitely make it happen.

Gino Caruso

The pleasure of visiting a beautiful city such as Cape Town could have been spoiled by the commercialism that most cities present the traveller and by the “guides “ that arise from the vast opportunities to take as many Rand as possible from tourists. To have met and being escorted, together with other visitors to a number of beautiful, ugly ,good and bad attractions of this wonderful city by Shaheed dispelled any misconceptions I might have had about South Africa. His knowledge of the history, the charm, the attractions of CT made it a pleasure to be driven by such a honest ,knowledgeable guide. As a volunteer guide myself, I can appreciate the effort that Shaheed put in to ensure that I left CT with great memories. FIVE STAR rating from me, highly recommended.

Jaime

I visited Cape Town last year and had a wonderful tour. Not only did Shaheed have an awesome depth of knowledge about Cape Town, he had all the details of touring down, including water and snacks, a luxurious vehicle, wifi hot spot, and chargers for every kind of phone at each seat! We had a great time and I adored Cape Town.

Chrissie Russell

My husband and I were in Cape Town for five days in December 2012 and wanted to pack a lot in. Shaheed was excellent at accommodating all our requests from visiting a township to wine tasting and much more. His knowledge was excellent (particularly when it came to knowing great places to eat!) and we felt in very safe hands. I would heartily recommend Escape to the Cape to anyone wanting a top end service that offers flexibility and a high standard of attention to detail (the inclusion of Wifi in vehicles and Shaheed's impressive selection of phone charges were just some of the ways he pre-empted things we'd need before we'd even thought of it). An excellent service that really made our visit run smoothly and stress-free.

Keith Jenkins

I truly enjoyed my tours with Escape to the Cape. I found them to be very knowledgeable about the Cape Town and the surrounding region, friendly and courteous, and very dependable. I especially loved their comfortable, well-equipped vehicles (there were wifi devices, water/snacks and phone chargers)! I can definitely recommend them to anyone visiting Cape Town.

Kate Goldstein

Cape Town is not a city that is easy to get around without a car--especially if you want to visit lots of different places. Escape to the Cape is an expert at what they do, which is luxury tours planned to perfection. They have figured out all of the best places, they are extremely professional and the guides are warm, welcoming and knowledgeable. We were with Joe and he was amazing!! If you have limited time in Cape Town these tours will pack more than you could imagine into one day. They figure out all the details so you can just come and enjoy!

Keiichi Tamada

We visit Cape Town last month. It was excellent. Travel arrangements was done by Shaheed.
Shaheed arranged good time and route considering my little kids.
It was my wife and kids first visit to Cape Town and they really enjoyed it.
The Table Mountain was wonderful with good weather and recomended Japanese Restaurant also nice.
On the way to Cape of Good Hope, we could see wild Ostriches.
We would love to visit cape Town again!!!

Carmen Silveira

My husband and I had three days to visit Cape Town and the surrounding region as part of our first visit to South Africa. We had the extreme luck of being accompanied to all the "must see" places by the owner of "Escape to the Cape", Shaheed Ebrahim. After the first few miles we had become friends and this enhanced the pleasure of the visit. His comments and explanations were not the usual blah blah blah of the boring tourist guides. Quite on the contrary, they were the vital, proud and warm comments of someone who seemed to discover the beauty of the city, of the neighbourhoods, the Cape and the surrounding areas for the first time. Shaheed is able to convey an enthusiasm that we found absolutely contagious. An excellent photographer himself, Shaheed would always take us to the best places to shoot from the best angles the prime landscapes and environments. At the time we got to know each other, his company has just earned an important prize as the first one to have WI-FI available on all of its vans. We recommend Escape to the Cape and Shaheed to anyone seeking the very best.

Prashant

Escape to cape was Was an excellent choice for our stay in S.A , Their Warmth , Professionalism , Curtsey Top Noch. It was like having a Friend in Cape Town. Shahid was Exceptionally good. His Knowledge about places and friendly manner would be pleasing to any one who uses his service. We were on our honeymoon hence to make our experience even more memorable he actually like a friend went out of his way to help. Out of the many instance The entire Garden Route tour was so personalised and in luxury in his car with VVVIIP service and making sure we saw all the places which were a must to breath taking sights and most importantly being a local he knew where to go when and always had the perfect view and spot to stop the car where we could walk or just be there. ( This is excellent as you as a tourist get to experience cape town like a local and better than a tourist blend of both )
We due to bad weather were unable to visit table mountain for 5 days we were there and the day the weather was good we had a flight to catch so in all likeness we would have to skip table mountain and were very upset. ( but then Shahid setped in "You cannot leave cape town without visiting Table Mountain". We did not have pre booked tickets still he made sure we went there and pulled off all his skills to make sure we Got to see table mountain by speaking to some one he new there and helping us avoid the big que etc. If not for him we would have missed the Table Mountain.
These are just few of the things over all would rate Escape to Cape 7 stars and recommend any one who is considering to use his service don't think twice.
With Escape to Cape you will Enjoy Cape Town Like no Tourist Would that is a Guarantee ( Like mentioned earlier perfect blend of Local + Tourist Feel ) from advice where to go eat , things to do avoid in spite of doing research he will pull something different that one cannot expect.
Great Job Shahid Keep It up Cheers :-)
Visited November 2013

Izanne

I work for an international retailer, and it was such a mission to find a reliable tour operator that could meet my colleagues international standards. When I came accross Escape To the Cape I have never looked back. Since using their services in 2013 my colleagues have never complained. We make use of their services weekly and they use executive vehicles and drivers/guides are proffesional,knowledgeable and always on time for services. Thank you!

Pierre Bartholomew

Escape to the Cape's service was top notch during our stay in Cape Town. I would recommend your company to everyone who visits Cape Town. Your drivers were very punctual, friendly and knowledgable about the country and things to do in Cape Town. If we wanted to do the tourist route or do local things they knew when and where to take us. We also felt very safe and secure when we were in their presence. We look forward to seeing you again and will certainly hire your company for our service. Again, many thanks and you made our stay that much more enjoyable.

Matthew Karsten

In December 2011, part a group of professional bloggers we had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful country of South Africa for the first time. We used Escape to the Cape as our tour/shuttle operator while we were there. What a fantastic company! Shaheed was more than just a knowledgeable tour guide, he became a good friend over the course of our trip. Whisked around Cape Town and the Garden Route in a clean & comfortable van, we had everything we needed. Snacks were provided every day, I was able to charge my laptop & phone from the vehicle, and there was even free WiFi in there as well! I shared photos and updates to family & friends while driving between locations. If you want to have a wonderful travel experience in South Africa, I highly recommend working with Escape to the Cape. Matthew Karsten - USA

Min Tak - New York

We had such an amazing time in Cape Town with you as our guide. You certainly provided a lot of local insights we wouldn’t have otherwise known about from guide books or any websites. You provided A-level service with your sleek and comfortable van, equipped with WIFI and multiple phone charging ports. This was super helpful as we were constantly communicating with the rest of the world via Twitter, Facebook, email, etc to document our incredible experience in real-time. Providing daily snacks and beverages were a nice touch and necessary for some of the longer road trips. Escape for the Cape definitely goes the extra mile to provide excellent service, plus they’re friendly and they join in on the fun! And of course, I will always refer travelers to Escape to the Cape if they’re visiting the Mother City… Thanks again for making our trip memorable!!

Cristian Pop of Romania

I am very thankful for the ten beautiful days spent by me and my family in the wonderful region of Western Cape. There are many aspects of our trip that blew us away completely such as the animals: lions, penguins, the great white sharks, all extraordinary in their variety and the spectaculos sights were simply breathtaking especially the ones from the helicopter. I humbly recommend the exceptional services of the Escape to the Cape company and I congratulate Shaheed for his implication and for his attention to detail which make the services exclusive. This is the true meaning of professionalism! Discrete, honest and very civilized, Shaheed and his partners offered us an unforgettable vacation, one that allowed us to indulge in all wonders this God -blessed country has to offer. The exceptional services of the Escape to the Cape are worthy of being cloned and exported to Europe or America as well. I wish you a lot of successs and I assure you that we will revisit Cape Town.

Zak & Leila Ahmed

Escape to the Cape's service was top notch during our stay in Cape Town. I would recommend your company to everyone who visits Cape Town. Your drivers were very punctual, friendly and knowledgable about the country and things to do in Cape Town. If we wanted to do the tourist route or do local things they knew when and where to take us. We also felt very safe and secure when we were in their presence. We look forward to seeing you again and will certainly hire your company for our service. Again, many thanks and you made our stay that much more enjoyable.

South African Tourism- USA

We plan many trips to South Africa and work with many different tour operators but I can honestly say that working with 'Escape to the Cape' was definitely one of the most pleasant experiences I've had planning a Western Cape itinerary. From day one, I found Shaheed quick to respond to emails regardless of the large time difference between the USA and South Africa. Overall, the trip was hassle free and seamless in all aspects. The complimentary snacks, water, blankets and internet access in the vehicle all made my job easier and greatly impressed all my guests. In the end, I felt Shaheed's interactions with the group were highly positive and created a truly personal connection between them and the destination. I look forward to working with 'Escape to the Cape' again at some point. David DiGregorio- Marketing & Communications Manager - SAT (USA)

Derek Earl Baron

For five days our group traveled with Escape to the Cape and we were repeatedly impressed with every aspect of the services he provided, so much so that we wished he could have accompanied us during our entire two week stay. More than a driver, more than a guide, Shaheed offers visitors an overall experience that you would expect from your closest of friends. From his interesting stories about life in South Africa and detailed knowledge about his country to wi-fi in the van, snacks and water always being available and his willingness to cater to every need of his guests, spending even a day with Shaheed is guaranteed to infinitely enhance any trip to wonderful South Africa. There is no way I would visit this country again without first contacting Escape to the Cape.”

Prof Bruce Wade

The services provided by "Escape to the Cape" were truly exceptional. Shaheed is very accommodating, polite and knowledgeable about the Capetown area. He and his staff were prompt, courteous and professional at all times. They made our trip both enjoyable and informative. I would recommend their service to all visitors to the "Cape" and I plan to use them in future travels to South Africa. Spelman College, Atlanta, USA

Julie

I can't start to tell you what a fabulous time we've had on both the Cape Peninsula and the Winelands tour, thanks to Jo who litteraly made our stay in Cape Town. My sister and I have travelled quite extensively in the past, and have taken many guided tours, but never have we met such a professional, knowledgeable and pleasant guide as Jo. The organisation was admirable and his timing absolutely impressive, given the ambitious programme of both tours. Not only were his insight and input invaluable, but he also made sure to give us plenty of room so we could enjoy one-on-one time. The evening after the first tour, we just couldn't wait to meet with him the next morning for the second tour, and were pretty sad when we parted that next evening. We have had such a wonderful overall experience that we have been sharing it with everyone around us. I have also written to France's most-read tourist guidebook, Le Guide du Routard, requesting that Escape to the Cape be referenced. Thanks again for this wonderful experience. Airfrance - cabin crew

Simon Emery

My wife and I travelled to Cape Town in July 2011 from UK and I cannot thank Shaheed and Escape to the Cape enough. The outstanding service started with quick responses to all my emails/questions (more than can be said for other companies we contacted) right through to the tours themselves. Having visited the cape before, we had a good idea of what we wanted to do/go and see so we booked a private tour which allowed us to tailormake our own itinerary and travel at our own pace – however Shaheed enhanced our days by suggesting other places we may want to visit and suggestions of restaurants – which he also took care of booking tables for us. When we arrived in Cape Town he came to meet us at our hotel to finalise our itenery what we wanted to do to make sure we got the most out of our tours. The tours themselves were fantastic and we couldn’t have hoped for any more, the vehicles were modern and comfortable, complimentary snacks were always readily available, the drivers were professional and extremely knowledgeable, they even did our laundry free of charge, best of all they took photo's of our tour and gifted it to us on a flash drive. Should we return to Cape Town again I would not hesitate to use Escape to the Cape again or in recommending them to anyone – the service we received was second to none.

Vahid Gordji

Myself and my partner were travelled to South Africa in July 2011 to exhibit at the 'Saitex' consumer products show. Our agent in Iran had everything arranged by their ground handler Escape to the Cape. Mr Shaheed personally flew from Cape Town to meet us on arrival in Johannesburg. Unfortunately, due to a 2.5 hour delay at customs we were worried if he would still be there to receive us and low and behold Mr Shaheed was still patiently waiting for us. His committment on the day was only to shuttle us from the airport to the hotel but he was kind enough to take us directly to the exhibition to start setting up. As there was problems of our goods being confiscated at customs he arranged the exhibition company to draft a letter on our behalf and made many phone calls to assist. He then took me back to the airport to have my goods released. This process took another few hours which he patiently waited for us again. After the release of our samples he shuttled us again to the exhibition by which time it was already 10pm the evening. I cannot thank this company enough for their assistance especially on the first day, if it was not for Mr Shaheed our goods would not have been released in time for the exhibition and our whole trip could have been worthless. He also went out of his way to get a potentially big client to meet with me at the exhibition which was of tremendous value and business prospects with the client looks promising. Our accommodation and transport services were arranged so well that our company (Zardband) has decided that our travel agent in Iran uses Escape to the Cape for all services in South Africa.

Baizura Kamal

In April 2011 myself, my husband and three other couples visited Cape Town for seven days. Our tour needs were very specific- we wanted to visit all the main tourist spots as well as the Kramat's ( burial sites) of several prominent Muslims who were banished to the Cape from the East Indies during the 16th-17th century. These Kramat's are scattered all over the Cape, many in very isolated areas. I did engage with a few tour companies months before our arrival and in the last 2-3 weeks, I came across Escape to the Cape's website. Upon receiving a prompt reply to my query we began communicating and finalized our trip with them as I was impressed with his service from the very outset. He provided me with a thorough iternary and it was clear that he had researched the sites we wanted to visit before qouting a price- something the other tour operators were not willing to do. The iternary was very balanced providing the time we needed for spiritual purposes as well as allowing us sufficient time to shop and sight-see. From the moment we arrived in Cape Town we were treated by Shaheed and his co-worker Yusuf as family. They tended to our every need. Shaheed was quite knowledgeable and provided us with printed information and detailed histories on each of the kramats we visited on daily basis. He was sensitive to our specific needs and we never felt rushed. Shaheed often went beyond the call of duty by assisting us, at no cost, with personal errands. One errand stands out when we just casually mentioned to him at 10pm that we were out of milk, bread & eggs for the next day's breakfast, and without telling us he went that time of the night to purchase the items and delivered it personally to our holiday villa. One of the highlights of the trip was when he invited all 8 of us to his home for a meal- the welcome and hospitality we received will last with me for a life time. Cape Town is a beautiful and magnificent place to visit but to experience it with the likes of Shaheed and Yusuf will make it an unforgettable trip. I have no hesitation in recommending this company to anyone and my group eagerly looks forward to when we can meet with Shaheed again- be it in Cape Town or Malaysia!!

ida Zoccoli

We were a group of 5 Italians visiting Cape Town in June 2011. Having left most of the planning to ‘Escape to the Cape’ we had no idea what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised as Shaheed proved to be one of the most experienced and knowledgeable tour guides we have ever had in our journeys. He has an in depth knowledge of the history, land and culture that will warm the heart of any visitor from around the globe and make you fall head of heels in love with the Cape, just like we did! He has a very comfortable van, complimentary drinks and snacks on board and is a very cautious and safe driver. He always suggested restaurants for our meals which proved to be excellent suggestion each time. Shaheed is far from being just a tour guide and becomes a good and trusted friend on which you can rely. Thank you Shaheed. Ida, Tiziana, Marcello, Stelio, Paola.

Jerel Ross- Boston

I am so happy that I got a chance to meet you and your family while in South Africa. The journey would not have been the same without you, and you did a great job as a tour guide. I definitely enjoyed my time in SA and hope to return for work early in my career. I wish your business and your family the much success as you grow together, and hope to keep in touch.

Carl Soderstrom

We spent three days in mid-April touring Cape Town and the surrounding area with Shaheed from Escape to the Cape and had a fantastic time. Shaheed was very knowledgeable and we very much enjoyed his friendly and personable approach to showing us his country. He even brought along another guide on one of the days who had specialized expertise of Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. Shaheed was very flexible and allowed us to modify our itinerary as we went along. He took a couple of hundred pictures with his camera during the three days and provided them to us on a memory stick, dropping by the hotel to wish us off on the morning of our departure. Shaheed made our trip to Cape Town very memorable and we would highly recommend his services to anyone wanting a personalized tour when in South Africa.

Farooq Family of Malawi

I was referred to this company from a business associate in Pretoria. Upon arrival in Cape Town, I went to hire a car but as we in Africa dont use credit card it was impossible to hire it. I phoned shaheed on a sunday afternoon from the airport explaining to him my problem, who i am and within 15min he made his way to the airport and hired the vehicle on his personal credit card (and i gave him the cash). Even tho i was doing a self drive and i was not booking him for any services he still made the effort to assist me. This is a genuine guy with good intentions. He even planned a 1 week itenery for me to follow as to make the best use of my time in Cape Town, whatever he recommended my family enjoyed it from places of interest, food, shopping etc. They are highly recommended.

Tour Operator from Iran

We have been using Mr Shaheed Ebrahim for more than 12months after we had problems with a previous supplier. We send groups virtually weekly ranging from 10pax-120pax. He arranges accommodation, transport and all other logistics needed anywhere around the country. We have become very reliant on his company. What we very happy about is his trustworthiness, flexibility, pricing, service excellence and very importantly even when he is travelling and not available he puts a plan in place to continue the service excellence. Many times we have called him in the odd hours of the night to attend to emergencies with regards our groups etc with no complain and importantly at NO charge! To Shaheed & Joe you guys are doing South Africa proud with your service. They have become my brothers in Cape Town. I recommend all agents anywhere in the world to use this marvelous company.

Dr MA Gauri

I have been to South Africa numerous times with & without my family, this company has always made our stay pleasurable. I tend to come to SA on business often. This company i use now for all my accommodation, chauffeuring, sightseeing, shuttles, client entertaining etc all around SA. He has expanded from only tours to many travel / business related services, hence a one stop shop. I also feel very safe when my family is with when they are in his care. He has become a close family friend and a very reliable ground handler/contact for me in SA. What is also excellent for me is his turnaround time especially due to the big time difference between Canada & SA. One can expect prompt reply's even at odd hours in the night (seems like he doesnt sleep). Shaheed and Yusuf (aka Joe) job well done!! Dr Gauri & family- Edmonton, Canada

Michael Ross- Johannesburg

My wife and I were hesitant in booking a local operator as they tend to be pricey and geared towards international tourist but after reading the reviews on this company we decided to book them and ditched the self drive option. From the time of initial email contact, to the end of our tour we were extremely happy as they made us feel like a tourist in our own country. Their attention to detail, complimentary snacks and their informative information made it a trip to remember. Excellent local story telling. Potential domestic & international travellers you will NOT go wrong with this company. After our Cape Peninsula tour, we planning another trip soon, heard his quite good on the cultural/township tours amongst all the others. Its good to see young entrepreneurs do our country proud- Well done

Conrad Thomas- Cape Town

Myself and my family have used the airport shuttle service provided by Shaheed Ebrahim over the past few years for both business and leisure occasions. Shaheed goes beyond expectations in that most of the time he has arrived long before the scheduled time, which greatly eases ones peace of mind when travelling. Both to and from the airport the transfers have been seamless, and particular on leaving the airport, from picking up ones baggage to be being driven away from the airport is very quick and hassle free. On the road Shaheed is a courteous and safe driver with the safety and well being of his passengers utmost in his mind. In addition light conversation with Shaheed while on the road on various topics, provides great relief from travel and business stress. If you are considering an airport shuttle service, my recommendation will definitely be Shaheed Ebrahim and Escape to the Cape. Conrad Thomas- Systems engineer @ Tellumat

Stephen Cox- UK

I read the reviews on the British Airways intranet and immediately thought this is the company to use. I was happy with my choice as my entire journey was a pleasurable experience. I have already referred other British Airways employees and friends to Escape to the Cape and will continue to do so. Great company and great staff. Stephen: BA employee at Gatwick

Bob Khan & Party -London

Escape to the Cape has just been excellent in all regards from airport pick up- accommodation arrangements- tours- general knowledge- professionalism etc. My son was getting married on this trip and Shaheed actually helped us way more that he was meant to do. He has actually became a close family friend. From all my family, job well done Shaheed. I will definitely recommend you to all my mates at British Airways. Keep up the good work and we all wish you well for the future.

Lianne Clarke-Amex Cape Town

I operate the American Express travel desk for a national corporate in Cape Town. We frequently use the services of this company and have never been disappointed. The company offers a wide range of travel products for both the leisure and business sector. Escape to the Cape conducts itself professionally and with the utmost attention to detail. The Amex brand demands a high degree of quality and we have found that with Escape to the Cape our high standards and expectations are always met.

Adeyinka Adeyemi- Nigeria

This company has just been marvelous! They arranged my guest to be picked up and transferred to various hotels in Cape Town as well as assisted them with checkin. They have been very flexible and customer service second to none. They loaned me with a complimentary cell phone for my 1 week business visit to Cape Town. As i was flying to Johannesburg for meetings thereafter they even suggested me to keep the cell phone and return it when i come back after 2 months (now thats WOW). I was referred to them from my business partners in Cape Town. I have used them only once before but we built up a trust to the extent that i had cash flow problems whilst on my business trip in March 2011 and they allowed me to settled upon 14 days of arrival back in Nigeria (Thats WOW x 10). I cannot fault this company in any way as they have gone out of their way to assist us, we now use them not only for transport/tours etc but also all our accommodation needs as they secured better pricing for us than we could get online. We at intermarc consulting in Lagos, Nigeria highly recommend 'escape to the cape' for all your travel needs in Cape Town! CEO- Intermarc in Lagos, Nigeria

Ian & Rhonda Burchell- England

My Wife & I, would seriously recommend the services of this company. Shaheed was very flexible, affordable and possessed the customer service skills needed for this industry. A very well read person I have noticed. Much to our surprise upon arrival he even had a complimentary mobile phone with airtime credit for our use and for us to be in contact with him at any time even tho we only used his services for 2 days of our 6 day stay. His vehicles used were also quite impressive. What we liked as well was that he lived in London for 4 years, hence we related quite well. I was referred to this company from fellow British Airways employees who were also very happy with his services. Ian Burchell - British Airways employee @ Heathrow

Jorgen & Dong- Canada

Dear mr Shaheed With a little delay We are back in cold Calgary - today MINUS 26 deg. I/We want to Thank You for a lovely day (Feb19) Taking your time to bring us around in Cape Peninsula. We had a great day - thanks to you and the way you showed us around. As we told you we only had a limited time for our first visit to South Africa and Cape Town. There was many highlights of the full day Peninsula tour like Cape of Good Hope - your access to Penguins with where we were able to get up close & personal with the Penguins. What was great too that we had a choice for the lunch - really good idea you pointed out that we could eat at the waterfront in Simon town. Great lunch!! Thanks also for the great tip about lunch at the waterfront We had a great lunch at Ocean Basket on Sunday Feb 20 and yes we like it so much that we had dinner at Ocean Basket in Cape Town airport later same day. Thanks so much for showing some of your beautiful country and for a great day. We will be happy to recommend your service and hope to be back one day in South Africa.

Claus & Claudia Pulina

Dear Shaheed, thank you again for the wonderful time we spent together, your good and interesting explanations during our tours and your patients with our rusty english. We enjoyed it very much und will join you again on our next trip to Capetown!

Nigerian delegation

This company was most excellent as they arranged for our daily shuttles while on training as well as tours in Cape Town. They were VERY flexible, patient and affordable. Great company for corporate & leisure work. From the 10 member delegation, you guys are star!

Tihomir Gligoric (serbia)

An excellent tour of this beautiful place with very knowledgeable guide. Cabin crew- Emirates airlines

Guo Yuan (China)

It was very nice trip which is worth doing. This company covers all the major highlights of the Cape Peninsula tour. The whole trip was very well organised and presented by the guide. Well recommended by myself and other crew members. Guo Yuan- Emirates cabin Crew

Vicki

As two females travelling on our own my best friend and I felt very safe with Shaheed. We found him to be very informative and extremely helpful and would highly reccommend him as a tour guide. Vicki, London

Sushant Mehta

I have visited Cape Town on numerous occasions for business and leisure and have been using this company for all my touring needs including accommodation bookings. The owner, shaheed really goes out of his way to accommodate my difficult family as we have 2 demanding children and the fact that all our dietary requirements wherever we go HAS to be strictly Vegetarian. He is really sensitive to one's religious and cultural beliefs. Also impressive is that he & his family has even entertained us at his personal residence for snacks. Never happened to me before! This company offers affordability, luxury, flexibility and all round top service. They come highly recommended. Sushant Mehta- ICICI Bank (India)

Madhu & Mini Tripathi (India)

Shaheed is all that other reviewers before us have said-knowledgeable, courteous, honest, sensitive to client needs, willing to go the extra mile etc etc. In fact it was these consistently excellent reviews that attracted us to his company. Thereafter, it was a thoroughly professional & quick process to draw up a personalised itinerary for 3 days and freeze our plans. However, much to my dismay, my camera broke down on day-1 and the entire SA trip would have been a washout with no photos to share and relive the experience. Shaheed more than rose to the occasion; not only did he take about 400 photos over 3 days (and give us a CD), he was also kind enough to lend us his spare camera for us to use during our stay in South Africa(6 days in Cape Town, and another 3 days in Kruger NP & Jo'burg). We eventually downloaded all our photos on the way to Jo'burg Airport, before delivering the Camera to Shaheed's friend in Sandton, Jo'burg (yes he'd also organised various options to have it sent back to Cape Town). In a world full of cynicism, suspicion and a 'dog eat dog' approach, this outstanding example of trust was the high point of our trip. Cape Town & South Africa have some amazing sights but it is people like Shaheed who truly made them an experience of a lifetime for us. Meanwhile, Shaheed will remain in our hearts as an example of the finest things in Cape Town. Regrettably, I am limited by this rating system and can give him no more than 5 Stars - I wish that local tourism authorities could recognize & encourage such efforts. Totsiens. Madhu & Mini Tripathi.

Tom Mackay-Perth

During a recent visit to Cape Town our holiday group of 6 from Australia was fortunate to obtain the services of Shaheed Ebrahim's tourist company. We had a wonderful time - much of it due to the unfailing courtesy, punctuality, good humour and deep knowledge of Cape Town and its surroundings shown at all times by Shaheed himself. He is an excellent communicator and I strongly recommend his services for small touring groups of half a dozen people or so who want to see as much of this beautiful city as possible in a short time. He is a credit to the South African tourist industry. Tom Mackay, Journalist and broadcaster Perth, Australia.

Michaela, The Netherlands

I had an absolute wonderful day with Shaheed. I was visiting Cape town for business and had couple of days for myself. When I was looking for a guide for a one day Cape town & surrounding experience, his professional web-site impressed me. I contacted Shaheed by email and was very surprised about his immediate response. As a woman travelling on your own you are very careful and after a short chat on the phone about the possibilities, I booked the trip with him and did not regret doing so. We had a fantastic tour to the Cape Point. Shaheed really knows a lot about his country and I was fascinated by all these stories about the areas and spots we visited. We saw whales on the beach, penguins, ostriches, beautiful flowers, baboons, monuments and stunning landscapes. He brought me for lunch to Simons Town and I had the best seafood of my life at Bertha’s restaurant! I will recommend Shaheed to all my friends visiting Cape Town and for me, having a personal tour like that was the best I could have done. I saw so much in just one day and enjoyed every second of it.

Gino Caruso Perth ,Western Australia

The pleasure of visiting a beautiful city such as Cape Town could have been spoiled by the commercialism that the FIFA World Cup ,by the temporary “guides “ that would have arisen from the vast opportunities to take as many Rand as possible from tourists. To have met and being escorted, together with other Aussies, to a number of the beautiful, the ugly ,the good and the bad attractions of this wonderful city by Shaheed dispelled any misconceptions I might have had about South Africa. His knowledge of the history, the charm, the attractions of CT made it a pleasure to be driven by such a honest ,knowledgeable guide. As a volunteer guide myself, I can appreciate the effort that Shaheed put in to ensure that we left CT with great memories. FIVE STAR rating from me, highly recommended.

Ahmad Gerami ( Iran )

My wife, daughter and I, travelled to Cape Town courtesy of Hyundai for the semi-finals of the World Cup. Shaheed was appointed as our guide for the 3 days by Hyundai and did a wonderful job by sharing his vast knowledge, professionalism, humour and 'patience'. He was so good that many of the families contracted him after the official Hyundai tour, we for one had an informative City & Township tour with him as well as an exhilarating safari experience. Escape to the Cape offers value for money, excellent service and best of all is their personal touch! My family was well taken care of and we all definitely recommend this company whilst touring in Cape Town.

B Jafar (Philadelphia, USA)

Just superb, from initial correspondence to negotiating prices and customer service. He really makes you feel at ease especially after what we read about South Africa. My family of four thoroughly enjoyed our experience and all his recommendations. I have NO doubt that anyone using this company will be more than satisfied.

Shadi Eskaf

We absolutely loved Shaheed! My wife and I travel around the world a lot, and have had mixed experiences with tour guides. Shaheed was definitely our best tour guide ever! Shaheed was very conscientious of what we were looking for in a touristic experience of the Cape. He went way beyond the call of duty. For example, he made multiple stops along the way (anytime we asked) so that we could take pictures of the beautiful scenery. He even took candid pictures of us and sent them to us after the tour - it helps that he is a photographer as well, so his photos are very good. He was very personable and he had excellent conversation skills. Instead of giving us a memorized speech along the tour that he might have recited 1000 times before, he basically just TALKED with us, which is the best way to adapt personalize the information, and tell us about what we were curious about. Likewise, he adapted the tour to our needs and to exactly what we were looking for, so that we could get our unique experience of the Cape. Although the tour was supposed to end at 5 PM, he took us to see the sunset and ended the tour at 6:30 pm, just as a bonus. This was the BEST tour we have ever taken by far, and we felt more like friends than tour guide-tourists! We wanted to invite him along to our Garden Route trip the next day :) We highly recommend this tour guide to future tourists. Shadi & Karine-USA

Evans Prieston - USA

Shaheed took very good care of us while we were in Cape Town for the World Cup. He is very knowledgeable of the Cape Town area and it's history. I would highly recommend any of Shaheed's tours to anyone visiting Cape Town. In fact, I would recommend that you combine the tours into a multi-day experience because there is so much to see and because Shaheed does such a great job. Feel free to contact me with any specific questions, but I would recommend without reservation, that you should "Escape to the Cape" with Shaheed.

Abdullah- Saudi Arabia

We were a group who visited SA for the semi-final and got the chance to tour around CT with this operator guided by MR.Shaheed . We found him very proffessional and well informed . We were their for 3 days and the experience was marvillous and very pleasing .

Caroline Reid

When visiting Cape Town on 31 May 2010 we enjoyed a full day tour conducted by Shaheed from Escape to the Cape. The tour was well paced and included all the places we had hoped to see including Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point, Boulders Beach and Stellenbosch as well as many other great locations and scenic spots along the way. Shaheed arranged for us to rest and have lunch at a lovely restaurant by a harbour with very tasty and well priced seafood. We finished the day with photos at sunset from Lion's Head. We learnt a lot about Cape Town and its history from Shaheed and it was a pleasure to spend the day with him exploring 'the best of the Cape'. We would certainly recommend a tour with Escape to the Cape to anyone visiting the region. Caroline Reid and Darren Kennedy, Brisbane AUSTRALIA

Mrigank Shekhar

I am an Indian National from Bangalore and visited Cape Town during the FIFA WC 2010. I found about Escape to the Cape from this Website and started sending enquires. What was pleasantly surprising was the prompt response from Shaheed even on weekends, an hour max after sending an email unless it is night time. Within 24 hours, I had exchanged around 20 emails and was able to finalize my tour plan. We took a personalized tour for 2 for 3 days (Half Day City Tour, Wine Yards and Cape Peninsula tour). The pricing was very reasonable, the service was prompt, no hiccups at all, Shaheed was there at my hotel before time and the tours were awesome. Shaheed is very knowledgeable and as a result of the tour, I know so much about South Africa that I am now the official Wiki about the country within my circle :). In fact the wineyards tour was extraordinary given the details we got about wines, cheese etc. The wineyard tour ended in a Cheetah farm where we were able to stroke an adult Cheetah and this concluded one of the best tour days I have taken. The tours have a personal touch to them and are not like other tours where you sit in a van and move around a pre decided route. We were able to customize the tour as and when required to suit our tastes. Shaheed even went out of the way at times to help us out with dinner and other personal errands which were not a part of the tour price. Overall, we are more than satisfied customers and would recommend the tour to everyone. In fact, if we ever return to Cape Town, we will like to tour with Shaheed and himself. Thanks, Nidhi and Mrigank, Two very happy and satisfied customers.

Hasan Macadam

I was down in Cape Town with my family of four from Holland at the beginning of May 2010. In all my travel, I have not come across a tour company who was able to conduct a family tour as well this team. My 2 kids wanted to stop for toilet and rest breaks so often that i got annoyed but Shaheed (tour guide/owner) remained patient and won the friendship of my 2 spoilt brats. We had a warm day to start with and he had an onboard cooler where our drinks were kept chilled. As the day progressed the weather started getting colder & out came 2 blankets, WOW! Thats not all, he had a soccer ball with and played with my children during lunch. The cherry on the top, as the 2nd half of the day began the kids became restless and he gave them his 'ipad' to play games to keep them entertained, WOW x 10. This will remain a trip to remember and it makes me want to come back again because of his 'extraordinary' service. Thumbs up to Cape Town and Escape to the Cape!!!

Kader Parker

We took the Cape Peninsula package, a bargain! Particularly enjoyed the stunning scenery on view from Chapmans Peak to Camps Bay. The excellent service from Escape to the Cape coupled with their local knowledge made the day unforgettable. We're looking into booking another package now.

Vijay Vyas

Shaheed @ escape to the cape provided outstanding service whereby he used his personal phone and internet many a times to assist me with my BA staff ticket back to london, his prices are negotiable but even tho it was discounted he still gave a quality, in depth tour of the cape peninsula, wine route and city. Myself & my wife really enjoyed our experience and will definitely recommend his services.

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